Fluid dispensing applicator

ABSTRACT

THIS DISCLOSURE RELATES TO HAND GUIDED APPLICATORS FOR APPLYING PAINTS AND OTHER FLUIDS TO CLOTH, WOOD AND LIKE SURFACES WHICH INCLUDE A FLUID RESERVOIR PORTION AND AN ASSOCIATED APPLICATOR. A CONNECTOR UNIT IS POSITIONED BETWEEN THE RESERVOIR AND THE APPLICATOR TIP TO PERMIT THE TIP TO BE MOVED TO VARIOUS POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE RESERVOIR PORTION OF THE APPLICATOR.

Jan. 12, 1971 L. s. wooos FLUID DISPENSING APPLICATOR Filed Feb. 23'. 1969 i In INVENTOR LESTER E. WOODS mifzu-nn f fibula [71 ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,554,660 FLUID DISPENSING APPLICATOR Lester E. Woods, Lima, Ohio, assignor to Artex Hobby Products, Inc., Lima, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 803,278

Int. Cl. B43k 7/10 Cl. 401--2 14 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to hand guided applicatorsfor applying paints and other fluids to cloth, wood and like surfaces which include a fluid reservoir portion and an associated applicator. A connector unit is positioned between the reservoir and the applicator tip to permit the tip to be moved to various positions with respect to the reservoir portion of the applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION angle and with the appropriate pressure to cause the fluid flow onto the selected-area of the surface.

Since the applicator tip is required to be positioned on and applied against the surface to be coated at a proper angle to causethe applicator tip to function properly, the

reservoir is often required to be moved by the user to awkward and difficult-to-imaintain positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device for varying the position of the applicator tip relative to the reservoir or handle portion of the applicator. Broadly, the present invention comprises a fluid hand-held reservoir, an applicator .tip and an interconnecting chamber between the reservoir and tip. The chamber is formed in a member having two portions which are joined together to permit rotation of one with respect to the other while'maintaining a fluid seal between them, the rotated portion carrying the applicator tip and thereby permitting the tip to be oriented at various positions withrespect to the hand held reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an applicator; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3- of FIG. 2. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, elongated paint reservoir tube 1 having longitudinal centerline 3 is made from thin aluminum or other easily bendable material to permit the user to squeeze the tube to expel the contained paint. Neck 2 of the tube 1 receives threaded stem 4 which together with fixed recessed cylinder 6, rotatable recessed cylinder 7 and threaded tip receiver 8 form a paint supply passage from tube 1 to applicator tip 17. Stem 4 and fixed recess cylinder 6 are formed as one piece but maybe formed as two pieces and secured together. Rotatable cylinder 7 and 3,554,660 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 tip receiver 8 are also preferably integrally formed but may be assembled of two or more pieces.

Fixed cylinder 6 and rotatable cylinder 7 are rotatably connected together through ridge or lip 9 in cylinder 6 and complementary groove 11 formed in cylinder 7. The two cylinders are held against one another to form a paint seal while permitting rotatable cylinder 7 to be rotated relative to fixed cylinder 6 without appreciable passage of paint past abutting edges 10. The cylinders are preferably molded of plastic or other resilient material so that the rotatable cylinder can be snapped over and pried ofl lip 9 for easy assembly and disassembly.

Neck 2 has threads 12 which permit threaded stem 4 to be screwed into position while forming a seal between these parts to prevent paint leakage. Stem 4 has internal conduit 13 and receiver -8 has a similar conduit 14 formed in it. Fixed and rotatable cylinders 6 and 7 have internal chambers 6a and 7a, respectively, which are aligned to form a passageway 16 interconnecting conduits 13 and 14.

Ball point applicator tip 17 is threaded into receiver 8 and includes nozzle 18, tapered nozzle passage 19 having centerline 20, spring 21, spring seats 22 and ball valve 23. Nozzle 18 ha's'two flat areas 24 (FIG. 3) to facilitate gripping the nozzle with a tool to screw the nozzle into and out of receiver 8.

In the use of the applicator, the rotatable cylinder 7, receiver 8 and tip 17 are rotated as a unit to various angles within their range of movement which range is limited by the abutment of receiver 8 against neck 2. This range of movement is about 270 and has been found to be satisfactory of most applicators; however, if desired, cylinders 6 and 7 can be made larger to provide a longer connecting passageway to permit tip 17 to move through the full 360. Tip 17 and receiver 8 are shown in FIG. 1 in both solid and dot dash lines to illustrate two of the many positions to which they may be rotated.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-held applicator for applying paint to a surface comprising:

(A) a paint tube reservoir suitable in size to be held by hand;

(B) a ball point applicator tip including valve means therein, said applicator tip capable of effecting transfer of a fluid only when pressed against a surface;

(C) connecting means for connecting the reservoir to the applicator tip which means in turn comprises,

(i) a first paint-holding conduit communicating with the reservoir, (ii) a second paint-holding conduit communicating with the applicator tip, and (iii) an interconnecting paint-holding chamber member for interconnecting the first and second conduits, the interconnecting chamber member in turn comprising,

(a) a first recessed portion connected to the first conduit, (b) a second recessed portion connected to the second conduit, and (c) joining means for rotatably joining the first portion and second portion, said joining means including a ridge element formed in one of the recessed portions and the other portion including a complementary groove element for receiving and holding the ridge element when it is rotated such that the second portion may be rotated rel,- ative to the first portion while maintaining a fluid seal there between, whereby the paint flows from the reservoir into the first conduit, the interconnecting chamber member, the sec ond conduit where it is held and thereafter flows into the tip and whereby rotatable movement between the portions of the chamber mem ber permits ifl9ning ,th e. tip at,

various arigles to the reservoir.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ODonnell 239-5 87 w w FOREIGN PATENTS 1,243,684 9/1960 France 401l83 601,773 8/1934 Germany 222533 801,614 1/1951 Germany 401216 5 888,091 1/1962 Great Britain 401--183 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner 

